§ 27-02-01 — Appointment and duties of chief justice of the supreme court

The judges of the supreme court and district courts shall appoint from the members of the
supreme court a chief justice who shall serve for a term of five years or until that justice's term
expires, whichever shall first occur. The chief justice may resign the office of chief justice without
resigning from the office of judge of the supreme court. The chief justice shall preside at all
terms of the supreme court. In the absence of the chief justice, the judge having the shortest
term to serve shall preside in the chief justice's stead.